An Ingenious Pastry Chef Breaks the Rules at This Sweet Spot

At La Pâtisserie des Rêves, one of the most well-known pastry chefs in France prepares beautiful dessert creations for adoring fans. "La pâtisserie des rêves" is French for "the pastry shop of your dreams," and that description is entirely accurate. Created by Philippe Conticini in 2009, the pastry shop began with a single location in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. Now the brand boasts a handful of shops around the world, including four in the Parisian region, one in London and two in Japan.

Guests staying at one of the Sister Hôtels Champs-Elysées can experience Conticini's unique creations by visiting the nearest shop at 111 Rue de Longchamp. The address is conveniently located just a short distance away from the Champs-Elysées, making La Pâtisserie des Rêves perfect for an indulgent pit stop.

Born in 1963, Conticini grew up cooking in his parents' restaurant. When he was just 17, he became an apprentice at a restaurant with two Michelin stars. Soon after, his attentions turned to pastry-making, and at age 20 he became a pastry assistant at yet another establishment with two Michelin stars.

Ever since this brilliant start, Conticini has continued to make waves in the pastry world. He invented the concept of "verrines" (food served vertically in a small glass), which is now ubiquitous in French cuisine. In 2010, he introduced the "choux bun" bar. Choux is the French name for cream puff, and Conticini's creation combines this classic pastry with the idea of hamburger buns.

With puff pastry in the form of buns, creams and other fillings can be added on the spot, allowing "choux-buns" to be prepared right in front of the customer. This preparation is quite a departure from the original preparation of choux, blending the traditional with the modern in an extraordinary way. Those who visit the La Pâtisserie des Rêves can try the choux-bun bar as well as other French pastries such as mille-feuilles, tarts and eclairs. There is even a tea room for those who wish to linger.